I was disappointed to find that at nine discs and ten and half hours of recording time, this version is actually quite condensed. The dramatization voices often also left me wanting. I’m not sure I would have been able to follow it, except that I knew the story so well.

Here’s what I was able to find out about this production from this site:
https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_(1979_radio_series)

“ In 1979 the US National Public Radio broadcast a radio dramatisation of J.R.R Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings broadcast in twenty-four separate episodes. …..

The radio script, written by Bernard Mayes, was an abridged version of the book, and emphasised dialogue over description. The broadcasts totaled more than 11 hours. The budget was small and production time was limited. The cast were local theatre players, and the production used stock music and homemade sound effects. The script is notable for including the Tom Bombadil scenes, unlike most other adaptations of the book. “

The best part of this version is the fun wood box that the nine discs come in. ( )

My first encounter of LotR was many many (too many) years ago - when I was about 14 - and borrowed a HUGE one-volume edition from the library - it was a GORGEOUS book - tissue-thin pages, beautiful illustrations - looking like illuminated manuscripts of old. I had not heard *anything* about Tolkein or LotR at the time .. it was just serendipitous find in the library (which is one of my favorite things about libraries, even now). I remember reading with this heavy book on my lap, carefully turning each page ... I remember pouring through every page of every appendix ... and using the appendix on elvish to translate the frontipiece which had elvish runes decorating it... The whole experience was a revelation ... and as you can tell, I've never forgotten that first time w Tolkein. I've re-read the books many many time, and own them of course, but nothing can replace the experience of my first time with them. ( )

Not a Tolkein fan. Take my rating with a grain of salt. While, yes, LOTR is epic and wonderfully detailed, it's one of those "read it or die" trilogies. By the time I was finished, I was nearly tempted to pick the second option. ( )

We didn't really like the way this was read. It was not a compelling way to listen to the story. Blah. ( )